Spell Gone Wrong: Carnal Complications

by Salem Sinner

Pepper here. I’ve never met a magical boundary I didn’t want to cross.
So when I got tired of lectures about responsible spellcasting and safety protocols, I decided to show everyone what real pleasure magic looks like.

One modified desire amplification spell.
A few creative liberties with the rune placement.
What could possibly go wrong?

Everything, apparently.

Now the entire Academy is spiraling into chaos, my spell is feeding something ancient and hungry in the basement, and there’s a very real chance I’ve accidentally triggered the most magically unhinged meltdown in school history.

The walls are sweating. Students are climbing each other like trees.
Pretty sure a gargoyle winked at me.

And that’s before the Concupiscent, our resident desire-fueled eldritch entity, decides to join the party.

Time to call in the big guns. Or in this case, one very specific big Rex Blackthorn, supernatural fixer, Hellhounds MC, and the only person wild enough to help me unscrew this mess.

They said I lacked control.
They were absolutely right.

163 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2025

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to be honest, I picked up this series because I was looking for something a bit silly and fun, I did not expect the series to be deeply funny and diabolically smutty.

Sinner was right, we went from tame spice to omg all systems red smut levels in this second installment. Hot, juicy and very fun.

Big thank you to the author for providing the ARC for free; this is my delightfully honest review.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second book in the Academy of Carnal Arcana, and every bit as awesome as the first book! Pepper, ever the extremist casts a spell that goes insanely wrong and it affects everyone at the academy, including the eldritch entity being contained beneath the academy! Pepper, with the help of their hellhound biker friend with benefits, their friend and dorm mate Astrid, Professor Ravish, and TA Cruz, Pepper is able to the the spell under control and help contain the entity! A bit spicier than the first, but such a fun read! On to book 3, I can't wait!

[Jen D84 · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️x4
🌶x3.5
Just a spicy palate cleanse is right!! Another fun book and so much spicier than book 1. I love a fun read in between all the dark and these are perfect. Already ready to read the bonus and book 3, asap!

I received an advance review copy free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Spell Gone Wrong: Carnal Complations by Salem Sinner
Academy of Carnal Arcana, Book 2 of 3.
Released: 7/15/25
~164pgs

[Lauren Head · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this series expecting something light, silly, and fun. What I got instead was wildly entertaining, genuinely hilarious, and deliciously filthy. Sinner wasn’t kidding! We went from mild spice to full-on all systems red in this second installment. It’s hot, bold, and an absolute blast to read!

[Leah Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book one was good but this book cranked up the magic and the spice 🥵I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lady T · Rating 5 out of 5]

From me personally - I give it a 11 out of 5 stars. It made my AI glitch when I wanted to properly word my review without unraveling myself, OMG!!!

This book is pure, delicious chaos from start to finish—and I loved every second of it.

What starts as a sexy little spell turns into an academy-wide meltdown of magical lust, accidental soul bonds, emotional unraveling, and oh—a literal orgy beast awakening under the school. It’s wild, it’s funny, it’s unhinged, and somehow, still packed with heart.

The magic system is filthy, the characters are gloriously messy, and the plot refuses to behave—just like the spell at the center of it all. Think: magical feedback loops, horny disasters, hellhounds punching people, and zero self-control.

Absolute disaster. Absolutely worth it.

Warning: not for the faint of heart—or anyone who prefers their magic tame.

[Rene McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One word… Whew…

This book is HOT to say the least. You ask for steamy… this book delivers on every level… it has everything you can imagine… and things that I bet you never imagined… I am invested in this series. I can’t wait for book three…

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good and funny book with all the spice. I definitely enjoyed this book, it was everything and more. I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a funny but spicy sex magic academy book. 10/10!

[Grem Reeds · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review copy was freely provided to me by the author via BookSirens - thank you!

I'm not sure what happened between the first book of the series and this second one, but I'm very disappointed. The author tells us that Book 1 was a sip, and that this book will be a full glass, but I must've been given a leaky glass. It's ultimately not a bad story, but I found it severely lacking in many ways. I worry that I may be expecting more from the story than is reasonable, but that's why I'm writing this, so folks know what to expect and can decide for themselves.

Also, note from a trans reader to trans readers at the bottom.

⭐⭐ (2) | 🌶️ (1)

I finished the first book in two hours, but this took me over ten days to finish - at 140 pages/40k words, that's concerning. Perhaps I should have DNF'd, but I enjoyed the first so much, I felt I owed it to give a solid try.

Carried over from Book 1's review: comparisons, follow ups, etc. As noted in my previous review, this book was going to make or break the series for me.
* The writing and pacing continues to be solid!
* I love the familiars of our main group - but, where did they go?
* The magic system continues to be interesting, and not so complicated or taken seriously that it's a detriment.
* The conversations of consent initially changed my perception of the book from, to quote myself, ""fun sex magic," to "oh, we're going there? Ethics and morals, and fighting against the system? Sign me UP."" Dear reader, this does not continue in Book 2. That's not a negative, just a note. I'd have preferred it, but it hasn't actually effected my review score at all.
* I was excited about this world being queernormative - Book 1 had a very noteworthy nbi character, who is our main character in this, book two. I'm no longer excited. More on this at the end.

Onto the review on the actual book, my apologies for the delay.

I started the book and felt absolute dread. I'm talking, page 8, 5%, right at the beginning. We start with Pepper, the chaotic nonbinary rainbow oddball. I was so excited to have them as the lead, but their personality has seemingly shifted completely from how they were introduced in Book 1. I don't know what happened, but it felt like a bait and switch. I understand these are novellas, but this is so glaringly different, I can't excuse it.

So, we have Pepper in Professor Ravish & His Carnal Curriculum, Book 1. Weirdo, little filter, fun, lots of energy, bouncing around everywhere. Doesn't take much seriously, but has quite a few moments outside of that. Some are below.

“Shall we?” Pepper asked, gesturing toward the doors. “There’s a lot you need to know if you’re going to navigate this place without...” They hesitated, choosing their words carefully. “Without drawing the wrong kind of attention.”

“No one survives here alone. We all have to learn, adapt, and sometimes pretend to fail when success might draw the wrong kind of attention. [...] My first week, I accidentally enchanted all my underwear to sing whenever I got aroused. Or at least, that’s the story everyone knows.”

Pepper’s eyes gleamed with something sharper than mischief. “Let’s just say it’s better to be seen as charmingly incompetent than dangerously talented, especially at first. [...] but not before I’d established my reputation as talented but chaotic.”

Pepper in Spell Gone Wrong: Carnal Complications, Book 2 (You're here!)

By tomorrow, nobody would dare call me all flash and no substance. I'd ensure it.

They continue like that for the rest of the novella, with not a single thought or reference to being anything other than loveable, airheaded chaos. That wouldn't bother me at all, had Pepper not been introduced differently.

I have a lot more in my reading journal, but at this point I've spent more time on a review than I did reading. Some quick notes, both good and bad, split down the middle.
* Smut (please note, this series is labelled as erotica) is short, I suppose it's sweet sometimes, but is bare on details and doesn't feel impactful, emotionally. Not hot, no feels, why am I here?
* Absolute teasing with no follow through, in multiple places by the author. Hellhound Lube is a thing, and its ability is hyped up. What we actually get out of the story? It's poured on an appendage, and is not mentioned again. Not a single time, not even during the sex scene that it's involved in.
* "You don't know know what you do to me." "Show me." FADE TO BLACK, EXCUSE ME? At the end of the story there's a link to download the scene, an apology from the author that they couldn't fit it in. I'm bewildered and annoyed. Is that the good erotica, detailed and written out, that I expected? Maybe. I'm not downloading it to find out.

* There's a magical, mandatory, emotional bonding experience and it's very sweet! The author hits the perfect line between detailing and summarizing, without cheapening it. We get some cool backstory from various characters.
* The chapter titles continue to be amazing. They're somehow exactly what they say on the tin, and still so witty and hilarious.
* I paused reading the book for ten whole days, and remembered exactly what was happening as I left off, which is almost unheard of for me. The story is so unique, and the plot is so clear, I read the last 5 sentences of the previous chapter and was good to go. (My usual is re-reading half a chapter to two full chapters.)

For my fellow trans folks: I didn't feel that this ended up a queernormative world. Even when viewing through Pepper's eyes, it fell short for me. There was one thing that felt like a sledgehammer to the hip.

Pepper casually refers to themself as a girlfriend and it's only noteworthy to the other character because of the title, not the... Traditionally gendered term? I would like to give the benefit of the doubt to the author, but I'm not. People can use whatever labels/titles/words they'd like about themselves, including mixing and matching - I do it. It was the final nail in the coffin for my feeling that Pepper's identity was tossed onto them as an afterthought, regardless. I didn't get a single vibe of transness out of Pepper, nor anything around them, outside of their very first introduction in Book 1.

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPELL GONE WRONG: CARNAL COMPLICATIONS is the second novella in the Academy of Carnal Arcana series. Astrid is still around, but Pepper takes centre stage in this one, in a way only they can manage!

Pepper is pushing against the school's boundaries and guidance, and modifies a rune, just slightly! What follows is chaos in all its glory as there are magical feedback loops, soul bonds, and not a bed in sight.

Astrid and Cruz are still up there as the top characters for me, but I'm VERY interested to see where it's going with Ravish. Kai shows up towards the end, and I can't wait for his story either. Pepper and Rex are unholy hotness together, but Veylan at the end also shows promise. Do you see what I'm getting at here? ALL of the characters are magnificent, and I want more. Goodness, I sound like Astrid or Pepper!!!

Anyway, moving swiftly on, this was a fantastic read that definitely delivered on the promise to up the heat from book 1. I loved every moment and look forward to seeing where it takes me next. And why does everything I write sound like a double entendre?! It's this book, I swear. 😇

** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 1, 2025

[Amy M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Astrid, Cruz, Ravish, and Pepper (and a small cameo from Kai) are back and better than ever. Pepper does what Pepper wants, and magical chaos ensues. I love a good chaos gremlin and Pepper is no exception.

I enjoyed the spice level being cranked up, and I loved getting to see more of Astrid. My only struggle with this book is that the whole thing takes place over one-ish day. The whole first half of the book is just one giant "precise magical working," so there isn't really any plot or character development until the second half. I feel like I needed a longer timeline to let the bonding sink in, especially since we got to see it over 2 weeks in the first book.

I was sad we didn't get as much Cruz this book, but he really delivered when he was on the page. I loved seeing the posturing between him and Ravish, as well as his white knight moment with Astrid. Seeing him go absolutely feral over someone else touching Astrid was exactly what I wanted. What am I supposed to do with myself for a whole month until the next book comes out?

Thank you to BookSirens and Salem Sinner for the free eARC.

[Tedra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh


1st book was interesting but it never explained why prof Ravish was assigned to a student. Nor what typically happens after professor helps her with her sexual problem?

Typically would he & Cruz move on to another student in need?

What happens if either of them Were in a committed relationship? Like I asked nothing is explained at all in this weird Harry Potter meets sexcapade world..

It appears most everyone - students & faculty are either bi or fluid & totally ok with sharing, group ritual sex, public, exhibitionism & Voyeurism but never explained why.

Shy or unsure like the FMC is made to be like she's "holding
Back" a trope I HATE.

Was so happy to see both MMCS possessive but not enough to stop from semi sharing the FMC.


Why do they require orgies or smex rituals to fix things
Why is the staff allowed to be involved with students & e courage smexy rituals with multiple kids?

Nothing explained & while I enjoy rh & MMF menage - I loathe the sharing outside the relationship.
There is also ff (not with FMC Astrid)

I loathe Pepper btw
I can't stand females or push their sexuality onto others either.

[Bernice · Rating 4 out of 5]

All your favorite characters are back from Professor Ravish and His Carnal Curriculum (Book 1).

Pepper chafes against the practicing normal containment spells and academic learning constraints. Good thing they think they know a thing or two about minor tweaks to sigils for a class presentation. Too bad things go horribly awry. This puts all the characters in a group setting performing rituals to restore balance.

My favorite part of the book was the fact that Astrid just learned to harness her magic and must now use it in concentrated group efforts to save the school and undo Pepper's actions.

I love the fact that these are novellas but it also leaves me wanting longer books with more action. Professor Ravish is toeing the line of faculty appropriateness. A girl who knew nothing about magic a short time ago finds herself in a magic love triangle. More magical beings are introduced and the world-building is superb.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a little upset after book 1 because I thought book 2 was going to completely shift to a new set of characters. Fear not! It just shifts slightly - we still start with Kai, Astrid and Pepper, and Pepper is more of the main focus of this story. She does still share the limelight with Astrid, Ravish, and Cruz.

We get to see even more of how Pepper's "it will be fine" attitude does not always lead them to the best of decisions - especially when a lust sigil shows up and affects EVERYONE. Students get more practical practice at their lessons all over the school.

Story is an interesting ride as the new team works to fix Pepper's spell. Ravish and Cruz are still working on how to share, Astrid is getting better control, and the monster in the basement is a problem again.

I loved the introduction from the Author introducing the story. Helped me know what to expect based on book 1 and intrigued to see what book 2 had to offer. Cannot wait to read book 3.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!

After reading the first book I knew this one was going to be a ride and it did not disappoint. Spice, fun, magic, demons, sarcasm, chaos, did I mention SPICE? 🥵

The authors note sums it up PERFECTLY and left no crumbs:

If you're here because you read the first book and thought, "Wow, that was fun, but I could use a lot more orga*ms, magical chaos, and morally ambiguous decision-making..." Congratulations! You’re in the right place. This installment is significantly smuttier than the last one. At least three times smuttier.

As for the tone, this isn’t a dark book, not exactly. Let’s call it questionable. There's magic-fueled horniness, possessive demons, dubious decisions, and enough s*x spells to get your Kindle 🤰. But no trauma, gratuitous cruelty, or nihilistic despair. Think of it as a spicy palate cleanser after one of those books that made you question whether you should be allowed near old ladies or public parks”

[Aria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spell Gone Wrong: Carnal Complications is a scorching, unapologetically spicy romp that fully commits to its smutty delights. With a simple plot that cleverly sets the stage for magical mishaps and sizzling encounters, this book doesn’t waste time before diving into the heat. Fans of adult fantasy will appreciate the abundance of steamy moments—especially the bonus chapter packed with extra spice! While the storyline is straightforward, it works perfectly to showcase the playful, seductive atmosphere and magical chaos. If you’re craving something deliciously erotic with enchanting twists and magical mishaps, this one’s for you. Absolutely enjoyed every page and can’t wait to continue the series—highly recommended for readers looking for pure, magical escapism that turns up the heat! Four stars for a wild, wonderfully wicked start.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Casey Slattery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am addicted to this series! I was in the mood for something spicy but I was not expecting the characters and plot to be this developed. I'm loving the plot line, which is such a rarity when the spice level rises.

These characters are fantastic, the personalities are so different and the familiars have me laughing every time they interject. I devoured this book in one evening and I instantly wanted to move onto the third book. I'm so glad I found this series as it is the best spicy series I have read since Zodiac Academy.

The only issue I have with this series is that they are less than 200 pages. These characters and this plot line has the potential to be made into much bigger books. I can't wait to read the next books in this series!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Deonna Balentyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great short read, a spicy novella continuation from the first book. I enjoyed Professor Ravish and wished for more spice. I am glad book two Spell Gone Wrong added to the spice and drama. I am happy that we still had Astrid’s point of view. I feel like her story is just getting going. Pepper’s story brings the heat and I enjoyed their POV. They were a bit too experimental on creating their spell and set off a school wide oopsie-daisy. This causes all the students to need to do group activities to fight back and take control of the situation. I like the fact that we get to see more of the magic and possibilities. The world building is great and I love the concept.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[LL Bean · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶🌶🌶🌶

Mind the tags! A detailed list is linked to their website from the Author's Note, which I found to be accurate and thorough. This one (book 2) cranks the lever up from book one! Please lpok through them, there are strong dubcon aspects - the entirety of the plot progression for this one revolves around campus-wide dubcon.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The chapter titles remain one of my favorite parts 😂 the bar is certainly being maintained from book 1.

Call this one porn with plot 🔥 and some dun dun duunnnn!

[Layla Kara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The first book offered a playful mix of spice and story. This one felt rushed, with minimal development and maximum chaos. It relies heavily on shock value without giving readers much reason to stay invested. I won't be continuing the series.

[Clarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I read book 1, and I really liked it. This was my first book by this author as well.

So, when I read this one, I was shocked but a good shocked because WHEW 🥵

It was funny, spicy, magical, and just the right book for me to read in between my dark romance ones! I really enjoyed it.

I would definitely read the third book!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first in the series, I was very interested in receiving a copy of the second one for free.

Oh, Pepper… I think all of us have a little bit of Pepper in us. One thing is for certain: they definitely know how to get your attention. And we had the chance to delve a little further into Astrid's relationship with Cruz and Ravish, too!

Go big, or go home, as they say…

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was different from many I have read in this genre, and I appreciated the humor of the whimsy in the cure required for the spell gone wrong.

This story had me wanting to know more about the school's characters.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Brooke Bausher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow.. just.. wow! When I started this series. I had no clue what I was getting into and this book definitely kicked it up a notch! So spicy 🌶️ 🥵 and a completely unique and interesting storyline that I have never read before. An absolute must read.. for people who can handle it 😉 thankful to book sirens for letting me review these books as ARC copies 😍

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, light-hearted romp!

This is the book equivalent of a video short that would require you to enter some form of age validation these days ...

Take this tale in the spirit in which it was presented: it isn't going to win any literary awards, however I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Meranie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent book by Salem Sinner. I loved this read, which is much spicier than the previous volume. As entertaining if not more than the first book, another story just as fun and easy going. Once again I can't wait to read the next book.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely way more spice in this one!
A wonderful second book in this hilarious, lust-filled academy of sex magic users.
Pepper is amazing, Astrid is still figuring things out, Cruz is falling hard, and Valentine needs to back the fuck up lol

I received an ARC for my honest review.

[tre.wandereads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I'll give this a 3.5. It was funny, it was a little spicy and it still had a lot of story behind it. While it's not the best story out there, It was enough to interest the reader and give it character. I'm interested to find out what happens in the next books!

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The situations are kicking and giggling worthy. It will make laugh about some of the scenes and annoying you on othersI received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lita · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of fun and sadly over too soon. The next book is due to be released tomorrow, so at least not a long wait, but I'm wondering if this is going to be one of those ongoing series.